Bon Appétit Management Company Supports Dakota Hormone-Free Milk

Minneapolis, MN – Healthier milk is contributing to a healthier economy in North Dakota.

Great Plains Dairy Partners, LLC, has taken over the former Schultz Creamery in Bismarck, and revived the Deja Moo brand, which offers milk from cows not treated with the growth hormone so commonly used on dairy cows in the United States today.

“We have listened to consumers who have told us they want a fresher-tasting milk made in smaller batches from cows not treated with growth hormone,” says Great Plains Dairy executive Jim Odney. “This will be our niche.”

Dairy farmers began injecting cows with the rBST (recombinant bovine somatotrophin) hormone in 1994 to stimulate cows’ milk output. But Odney says more quantity often translates into lesser quality.

“Consumers want milk that doesn’t have the taste processed out of it,” Odney says.

Schultz Creamery was closed more than two years ago, falling victim to national conglomerates and industry consolidation. What secured the dairy’s revival was a deal with Bon Appétit Management Company, a food-service provider to colleges and corporations, to buy Deja Moo milk.

Bon Appétit’s Farm to Fork program is dedicated to sourcing from local producers, which ensures fresh, quality food for consumers and keeps local farmers in business. The California-based Bon Appétit specializes in high-quality, sustainably-sourced food service.

“Without Bon Appétit, we could never have re-opened our plant,” acknowledges Odney, who was able to re-hire 10 employees, many of whom worked at the factory when it closed. “They have a lot of emotional stock in the dairy, and some are second or third-generation family farmers. We are grateful to Bon Appétit for revitalizing our business.”

The Bon Appétit contract has given Great Plains momentum toward establishing a reliable source of income for local farmers, while delivering a supply of exceptional quality milk to local consumers. The contract will enable the company to relaunch Deja Moo in North Dakota supermarkets this year.

“This is a triple win — for consumers, family farmers and committed businesses that are passionate about the importance of local foods.” said Fedele Bauccio, CEO of Bon Appétit Management Company.

Macalester College, St. Olaf College, Best Buy and Boston Scientific are among the places where Deja Moo milk is available. Deja Moo will also soon reappear on local store shelves.

About Bon Appétit Management Company
Bon Appétit Management Co. is an onsite restaurant company offering full food service management by providing café and catering service to specialty venues, universities and corporations. Bon Appétit is committed to sourcing sustainable, local food supplies for all cafés throughout the country. Based in Palo Alto, CA., Bon Appétit has more than 190 cafés in 26 states. www.bamco.com